Apparatus for clamping optical disc

Abstract

An apparatus for clamping an optical disc according to the present invention, if an optical disc loaded into a turntable of a spindle motor is clamped in an optical disc drive, keeps the clamper and the turntable of the spindle motor close to each other by using an elastic force delivered by an elastic member installed in an upper part of the clamper. Therefore, the present invention enables optical disc clamping operation and rotational operation of a spindle motor in a normal manner without employing an expensive magnet such as a clamper yoke, clamper magnet, and absorption magnet and thus efficiently reduces manufacturing costs of optical disc drives.

1 . An apparatus for clamping an optical disc, comprising:
 a turntable into which an optical disc is loaded;   a clamper for clamping the optical disc; and   an elastic member being installed in an upper part of the clamper and making contact with the clamper, thereby providing an elastic force for clamping the optical disc.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic member is installed directly at a chassis or installed at a clamper cover adhered to the chassis. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein protrusion for making contact with the elastic member is formed in an upper surface of the clamper. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic member includes a plate spring, one side of which is fixed and the other side of which is left free. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein installed at the chassis or clamper cover is a stopper which restricts operation range of the other side of the elastic member left free. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the elastic member comprises the plate spring and coil springs for pushing or pulling the plate spring in a direction toward the clamper. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the coil spring is installed between the middle part of the plate spring and the other side thereof which is left free. 
     
     
         8 . An optical disc drive, comprising:
 an optical pick-up for recording data into an optical disc or reading out data from the optical disc;   a spindle motor for rotating the optical disc;   a turntable being formed above the spindle motor, where the optical disc is loaded;   a clamper for clamping the optical disc; and   an elastic member being installed in an upper part of the clamper and providing an elastic force for clamping the optical disc to the turntable by making contact with the clamper when the clamper clamps the optical disc as the turntable approaches.   
     
     
         9 . The optical disc drive of  claim 8 , wherein the elastic member is installed directly at a chassis forming an upper side external shape of the optical disc drive or installed at a clamper cover adhered to the chassis. 
     
     
         10 . The optical disc drive of  claim 8 , wherein protrusion for making contact with the elastic member is formed in an upper surface of the clamper. 
     
     
         11 . The optical disc drive of  claim 8 , wherein the elastic member includes a plate spring, one side of which is fixed and the other side of which is left free. 
     
     
         12 . The optical disc drive of  claim 11 , wherein operation range of the other side of the elastic member left free is restricted by a stopper installed in a chassis or a clamper cover. 
     
     
         13 . The optical disc drive of  claim 11 , wherein the elastic member comprises the plate spring and coil springs for pushing or pulling the plate spring in a direction toward the clamper. 
     
     
         14 . The optical disc drive of  claim 13 , wherein the coil spring is installed between the middle part of the plate spring and the other side thereof which is left free.